Acquisition of a Network Analyzer for Characterization of Ceramic Materials for Wireless Communication Systems

9504015个人通信服务（PCS）代表了一个新兴的和革命性的家庭微波为基础的技术（400兆赫至30千兆赫）。 常见的例子包括蜂窝电话、无线电缆、直播和交互式电视。为了存储、传输和过滤电磁波，基于陶瓷材料的组件是必不可少的。 新的和更好的用于无线通信（CWC）的陶瓷，其特征在于特别高的品质因数、相对高的介电常数和足够的温度稳定性，对于某些微波元件的进一步小型化和增强的性能将是非常期望的。 该计划的主要目标是对用于微波应用的潜在新型陶瓷材料的合成和加工进行系统的研究。 我们的研究正在进行，以便更深入地了解原子级缺陷，异质界面和陶瓷材料的微波介电性能之间的基本关系。 为了实现我们研究的中心目标，在微波频率范围（400 MHz至40 GHz）内测量材料的介电性能至关重要。 使用微波网络分析仪是表征此类微波特性的唯一直接方法。 该奖项提供资金，以获得这样的网络分析仪。 目前，匹兹堡大学没有这一单位。 该仪器将提高研究计划的质量。 使用网络分析仪，我们将能够通过实验确定与钽氧化物-氧化锆，铌氧化物-氧化锆和其他系统中烧结多晶陶瓷的成分和微观结构相关的微波性能。 我们计划调查的组成的影响，和microstructural功能（如晶粒尺寸，孔隙度和晶界微化学）的样品处理使用不同的烧结时间-温度曲线。 我们还试图了解不同掺杂剂和杂质的控制水平对不同组合物的微波介电常数和品质因数的影响。 这些性能将在不同的温度（100- 500 K）下进行测量，以阐明影响微波性能的基本机制。 ***

9504015 Phule Personal communication services (PCS) represent a burgeoning and revolutionary family of microwave based technologies (400 MHz to 30 GHz). Familiar examples include cellular telephones, wireless cable, direct broadcast, and interactive television. To store, transfer, and filter electromagnetic waves, components based on ceramic materials are indispensable. New and better ceramics for wireless communications (CWC), characterized by exceptionally high quality factors, a relatively high dielectric constant, and adequate temperature stability will be highly desirable for further miniaturization and enhanced performance of certain microwave components. The major goal of this program is to conduct a systematic investigation of the synthesis and processing of potentially novel ceramic materials for microwave applications. Our research is being conducted so as to gain deeper insights into the fundamental relationships between the atomic level defects, heterogeneous interfaces, and the microwave dielectric properties of ceramic materials. %%% For achieving the central goal of our research, it is critical to measure the dielectric properties of materials, in the microwave frequency range (400 MHz to 40 GHz). Using a microwave network analyzer is the only direct way to characterize such microwave properties. This award provides funds to acquire such a network analyzer. Presently, this unit is not available at the University of Pittsburgh. This instrument will enhance the quality of the research program. Using the network analyzer, we will be able to experimentally determine the microwave properties in relation to the composition and microstructure of sintered, polycrystalline ceramics in the tantalum oxide-zirconia, niobium oxidezirconia, and other systems. We plan to investigate the influence of composition, and micorstructural features (such as grain size, porosity, and grain boundary microchemistry) of samples processed using different sintering time-temperature profiles. We also seek to understand the influence of controlled levels of different dopants and impurities on the microwave dielectric constant and quality factor of different compositions. These properties will be measured at different temperatures (100- 500 K) so as to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms that influence microwave properties. ***